PA Memorial's Jakeira Ford commits to UTEP

Published 10:42 am, Thursday, August 20, 2015

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Port Arthur Memorial's Jakeira Ford, No. 23, puts the ball up for the basket during Tuesday's game against Ozen. The Port Arthur Memorial girls varsity basketball team played against Ozen High School at Ozen on Tuesday afternoon. Port Arthur beat Ozen with a final score of 76-52.
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Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
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Port Arthur Memorial's Jakeira Ford, No. 23, puts the ball up for the basket during Tuesday's game against Ozen. The Port Arthur Memorial girls varsity basketball team played against Ozen High School at Ozen on ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Port Arthur Memorial's Jakeira Ford, No. 23, moves past Lumberton's Allison Jacks, No. 3, during Saturday's game. The Lumberton High School girls basketball team played against Port Arthur Memorial at the Montagne Center at Lamar University on Saturday.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
Manditory Credit, No Sales, Mags Out, TV OUT, Web: AP Members Only less

Port Arthur Memorial's Jakeira Ford, No. 23, moves past Lumberton's Allison Jacks, No. 3, during Saturday's game. The Lumberton High School girls basketball team played against Port Arthur Memorial at the ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

PA Memorial's Jakeira Ford commits to UTEP

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PORT ARTHUR - After months of being courted by some of the top Division I schools in the country, Memorial's Jakeira Ford ended her search Tuesday with a verbal commitment to the University of Texas-El Paso.

"This whole experience just means a lot to me," said Ford, who averaged a double-double for the Lady Titans last season with 17.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

"I know a lot of people don't get the same opportunities so I'm very lucky to be blessed."

"UTEP showed me from Day 1 that they cared about me and my family and that they are going to take care of me," Ford said.

"I feel like I can trust them and my parents trusted them."

Ford, a 5-11 senior post player who will move to guard in college, chose UTEP over offers from Texas A&M, LSU, Cal, Louisiana Tech and the University of Houston.

"I honestly didn't want to go far from home," said Ford, who plans to pursue a degree in psychology.

"But the promise of playing time and a good education was something I really wanted. They (UTEP) told me they don't recruit players to sit on the bench."

Lady Titans' coach Kevin Henry was glad Ford committed before the season, so his star player can focus on helping Memorial make a return trip to the postseason.

"I know the process was difficult for her," Henry said. "When she visited UTEP she came back feeling like she belonged there. It's far from here, but I think it has the type of community there that she needs. With this decision out of her way I think she'll be able to focus on this school year and upcoming season."